How Does the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index Work?

Measuring Career, Social, Financial, Community and Physical Wellbeing

What is the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index?

In 2008, Gallup began measurement for the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, merging decades of clinical research, health leadership and behavioral economics research to track and understand the key factors that drive wellbeing. The Index provides an in-depth view of Americans' wellbeing and offers insights into their attitudes and behaviors at the national, state and community levels. It examines this through five interrelated elements that make up wellbeing: career (formerly known as purpose), social, financial, community and physical.

How are surveys conducted for the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index?

Beginning in January 2018, Gallup began surveying U.S. adults aged 18 and older living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia using a dual mail- and web-based methodology. Gallup samples individuals using an address-based sampling (ABS) frame, which is a representative list of all U.S. households. In their survey invitation, sample members are provided with a mail survey and a link and a unique access code if they would prefer to complete the survey online. Gallup purchases samples for this study from Survey Sampling International. Gallup chooses respondents at random within each household based on which member has the next birthday. Gallup includes Spanish-language surveys and related materials for households that have a high likelihood of including a Spanish-language speaker, based on U.S. Census records.

Before 2018, Gallup used a phone-based dual-frame design, which included both landline and cellphone numbers. Gallup sampled landline and cellphone numbers using random-digit-dial methods and conducted interviews in Spanish for respondents who were primarily Spanish-speaking.

Because the means of data collection (mail/web versus phone) can result in differing estimates for some metrics in randomized nationwide polling, Gallup has applied scientifically determined mode adjustments to its post-2017 estimates to ensure comparability with the phone-based estimates that preceded them, thus effectively preserving long-term trending.

How many people are surveyed as part of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index?

Gallup surveys approximately 10,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older each month. More than 2.7 million surveys have been conducted since 2008.

How often are Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index surveys conducted?

Gallup conducts the survey on an ongoing basis, with survey invitations sent once per month, 12 months per year.

Are the national samples weighted?

Yes, Gallup weights samples to correct for nonresponse. Gallup also weights its final samples to match the U.S. population according to gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region and population density. Demographic weighting targets for the U.S. and for individual states are based on the most recent Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older U.S. population, while weighting targets for metropolitan areas are based on Nielsen Claritas statistics. Population density targets are based on the most recent U.S. census. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Where can I find results from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index and learn more about the survey?